Method of and apparatus for effecting humidification



Sept. 9, 1924. 1,508,234

' R. D. MORRISON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING HUIIIDIFICATION Filed June 22 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 9 1924.

R. D. MORRISON mmuon' OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING miuwxmcanou 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22 1917 llll Iiw era/to IlaZpFv 12.210 ria 9 on. B a

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Sept. 9 1924.

R. D. MORRISON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFBCTING HUMIDIFICATION s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 22 1917 Imenior: phfliqornisonn Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED srATt-is PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH D. MORRISON, OF MATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SPRAY EN- GINEERING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING HUMIDIFICATION.

Application filed ilune 22, 1917. Serial No. 176,450.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH D. MORRISON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mattapan, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Efi'ecting Humidification, of which the following description, in connection with-the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. c

This invention relates to methods of and systems and apparatus for effecting humidification.

In order that the principlewf the invention may be readily undeistood, I have disclosed in the accompanying drawings, one form of apparatus embodying my system and by means of which my method may be effectively carried out.

In said drawings, Fig. l is a view in side elevation, but with a wall of the casing therefor removed, of

system;

tuting an installation or embodiment of my may be practicedi Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional the line 4-4: of Fig..1; Fig. 5 is a similar view upon the line 55 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing upon an enlarged scale the arrangement of atomizer nozzle and air and water pipes preferably employed in my system;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail in vertical section showing a form of check valve that may be employed in my system; and v Fig. 9 is a detail in side elevation of one of the solenoid valves preferably used in my system.

In accordance with my invention, I employ air or some other suitable fluid under pressure and, at preferably a plurality of points, such air or other fluid is discharged invention and by means of which my method view upon a-portion of the apparatus employed in my when the humidity of the room falls below the desired point. Such discharge of the air or other fluid draws water from some suitable source of supply and discharges the same into the room, thus effecting the desired humidification. The discharge of the air and water is controlled by the relative humidity of the air-'in the room in that form of, my invention herein shown. It may be controlled by the absolute humidity in any suitable manner.

Other features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter. Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have in Fig. 1 represented at 1 a casing adaptedto be positioned in the room, the humidification of which is to be controlled. The said casing is provided with an air inlet 2 and an air outlet 3 both in open communication with the said room. The air of the room passes from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3, preferably taking a circuitous path, and herein I have represented a partition 4 extending nearly the entire length of the casing. Preferably the casing is provided with a longitudinal partition 5 extending nearly the length thereof and having a downwardly extending end 6 provided with a suitable opening 7, through which the air entering at 2 may pass. Any suitable means maybe provided to drive the air through said casing 1. For this purpose I have herein represented an atomizer nozzle indicated generally at 8 in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinafter more fully described. "Within the casing 1, I provide means whereby the. air passing through said casingis caused automatically to act upon and control the means for introducing moisture into the room. I may employ any suitable means thus to be acted upon by theair in its passage, and I desire it to be understood that my method and system may be practiced and embodied with any other controlling devices or apparatus.

Preferably, however, I employ for the purpose two rods or bars 9, 10 of any suitable material. Preferably employ zinc or other material having a high coefiicient of expansion. Among other materials, I may employ a suitable rubber, metal or vulcanite. Both the rods or bars 9, 10 are of the same material. Between and 90% relative humidity and at ordinary room temperatures of 70 to 90 F., there is an approximately fixed ratio between the wet and dry bulb temperatures. That ratio is the ratio of the length of the two rods 9, 10.

The rod 10, which is the longer, has a fixed support at one end in a socket 11 extending inwardly from a wall of the casing. The said rod 10 extends through the downwardly bent portion 6 of the partition 5, and at its end is fixedly secured to a bracket or sleeve 12, upon which at 13 is pivotally mounted "a right angled bracket14 which upwardly extends as indicated in Fig. 4, and from which rigidly extends a portion 15, preferably integral with said bracket, or

if desired rigidly secured thereto. The end 16 of said portion 15 of the bracket 14 may be formed of carbon or some other suitable conducting'material, that at suitable times is moved forwardly into engagement with one or both of the contact screws 17, 18.

The other and shorter bar or rod 9 is fixedly secured at one end inv a socket 19 and at its other end it is secured in a bracket or sleeve 20, which is itself pivoted at 21 to the bracket 14, and preferably to a lateral extension 22 thereof.

' The lower part 23 of the casing 1 constitutes a water chamber, and upon or about the rod or bar 10 I position some suitable textile material, such, for example, as a wicking 24- formed of an open weave cloth.

' The construction is such that as the air passes to and in contact with the rods or bars 9, 10, the rodor bar 10 is reduced to a wet bulb temperature, and in its contraction or expansion dependent upon the humidity of the air passing in contact therewith,'.the member. or part 15 is lifted or lowered, thereby making contact between the carbon 16 and one or both of the contact screws 17, 18 or breaking said contacts. l

Assuming that the member 15 is lifted, the action is to cause the carbon 16 to make contact first with the contact. screw 17 and then, if the humidification efi'ect is not sufficient, to make contact with the contact screw 18, thereby to effect increased humidification.

. post 32 of the relay 27 a wire 33. extends through the casing as indicated at 34, and

then extends to avalvehereinafter referred to. From a binding post 35 upon the relay 28 extends a wire 36 which passes through the wall'of the casing 1, as indicated at 37, and thence extends to another valve hereinafter referred to. The other .main line 25 extends within and through the casing as indicated at 38, and the outer end thereof is indicated at 39. Said wire thence extends to both of the valves just referred to. The said relays and wires are suitably connected to a transformer of any suitable type, such as indicated at 40 in Fig. 1. The line wire 25 is branched as indicated at 41 and extends to said transformer, and the branch 30 of the line wire. 26 is itself branched as indicated at 42 and extends to said transformer. transformer leads a wire 43 extending to the relay 28 and a wire 44 extending to the carbon 16. From the wire 43 leads a 'or any desired part thereof.

Preferably in suitable juxtaposition to each of said water pipes 48, 49 respectively are two air pipes 50, 51 and 52, 53. At suit-v able intervals I provide suitable atomizing devices diagrammatically indicated at 54, 55, 56, 57, there being a series of each of said atomizing devices 54, 55, 56, 57. Each of the atomizing devices 54 is in communicationthrough a short pipe 58 with the air pipe 51 and through the pipe 59 with the water pipe 48. Each atomizing device is in communication through a short ipe 60 with the air pipe 50, and through a short pipe 61 with the water pipe 48; each atomizing device 56 is in communication througha short pipe 62 with the air pipe 53, and through a short pipe 63 with the water pipe 49; and each atomizing device 57 is in communication through a short pipe 64 with the air pipe 52 and through a short pipe 65 with the water pipe 49. At some suitable point and if desired within the room, I place a water tank 66-which may be closed and from which leads a discharge pipe 67. In communication with said discharge pipe 67 is a cross pipe 68 which communicates with both water pipes 48, 49. Joining the air pipes 51, 52 is a transverse pipe 69, and joining the air pipes 50, 53 is a transverse air pipe 70. Leading to the air pipe 69 is a pipe 71 and leading to the pipe'70 is a pipe 72. Said pipes 71, 72

are respectively provided with valves '7 3, 74

valve 74, opens if the humidity be below normal, or within the scope of my invention, one of said valves may be open at all times. Preferably, however, both are normally closed. The opening of said valve 74 admits air to the pipe 72, thence to the pipe 70, thence to the longitudinally extending pipes 50, 53. This effects the drawing of water through the action of atomizers and the discharge of the water through the atomizers 55, 55, etc., and the atomizers 56, 56, etc. If

the admission to the room of water through said alternate nozzles is insufficient to effect the desired humidification, then the contact is made between the carbon 16 and the contact screw 18, and thereupon the second valve 73 is opened, thus efiecting the admission of air to the pipes 71, 69 to the air pipes 51, 52' with the result that water is drawn to and discharged at the atomizers 54, 54, etc. and 57 57, etc.

If the relative humidification of the air reaches too high a point, then one and if necessary both valves 73, 74 are closed.

' Preferably I provide a check valve such as indicated at 75 in Figs. 6 and 8, to prevent air being drawn back into the water pipe. One of these check valves may be located adjacent to each atomizing device and is provided with a ball or other suitable check device 76. The valves 73, 74 may be of any suitable character.

In Fig. 9, I have indicated one of said valves 73, 74 as having a stem 77 passing through a suitable solenoid 78, said valve stem constituting the core of the solenoid.

' Said solenoid 78 is in circuit with the wires 34, 39 and the corresponding solenoid for the valve 73 is in circuit with the wires 3 39.

The level of the water in the tank 66 is below the level of the nozzles of the atomizing devices 54, 55, 56, 57 at all times, so that the action of the system is that of drawing the water by suction for a suitable atomizing action of the atomizing elements. The effect of the contact is to open the valve instantly to its full extent and to give full air pressure at the nozzle at all times, so that when water issues from the nozzle it has full air velocity to atomize it.

Each of the atomizing elements 54, 55, 56, 57 may be of any suitable character. It preferably is of the form shown in Fig. 2,

having a pipe 79 for admitting wherein I have represented an atomizer 8 air under pressure and a pipe 80 for admitting water underpressure. The body of the valve 81 has a substantially axial passage 82 for the airand is in communication with the air supply pipe 79. Within said passage 82 is a suitable needle or other valve 83 having suitable adjusting means 84. Upon the stem of said valve 83, I have represented a guide collar 85 having a groove 86 for the passage of air. At the outer end of said air passage 82 is a cap-like member 87. \Vithin the body 81 of said nozzle 8 is a longitudinal water passage 88 in communication with the water supply passage 80 and upon the outer end of the nozzle is adjustably secured, as by screw threads or otherwise, a cap 89 having a central discharge opening 90.

The construction is such that the air under pressure entering through the passage 79 causes water to be drawn into the passage 80. The water constantly forms a film between the inner surface of the cap 89 and outer surface of the cap-like member 87, and the thickness of such film may be readily varied by' adjustment of said cap 89. Such film is constantly formed and maintained by capillary action between the two cap-like members 87 89 which are brought close enough together to insure such action. The air entering through the passage 82 breaks through the film at the central portion of the cap and discharges the same in very fine globules. Such film is constantly broken by the air or other suitable fluid, but is constantly restored through the action of capillarity. Hence the water may be merely under suction due to capillary action. In will, thus, be evident that in my system the water need not be under pressure and that water is drawn from the tank 66 through the suction of the air under pressure.

I employ the atomizer nozzle 8 in carrying out the processes of atomization which I believe to be wholly new as such. The water or other liquid is maintained as a film between the two cap-like members 87 and 89. The water from which the film is formed is supplied at a comparatively low velocity, and the stream of air entering through the axial passagev 82 at high velocity tears apart the water film and drives the same through the opening 96 in the cap 89. As the stream of airissues from the opening 90, it expands, and thus forms a conical mass or film of thoroughly atomized water which acts as an aspirator upon the air of the room which has entered the casing 1 through the opening 2. This causes a circulation of such air through. the casing and causes it to issue therefrom through the exit 3. The water issuing through the opening also serves to compensate for the evaporation that will occur from the wicking 24.

Any suitable means may be employed to create a current of air through the casing 1.

Preferably for that purpose I provide an atomizer nozzle 8 of the general character of that just described.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, 'I desire it to be understood that although specific terms 3 are employed, they are used in a generic and munication with both of said supplying devices and at which water is adapted to be discharged into ,the atmosphere through the action of said air, means acting auto- '1natically to effect discharge from a part of said devices, and also automatically to increase the total discharge.

2. A h'umiclifying system comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a plurality of water discharge atomizing devices in communication with both of said supplying devices and at which water is adapted to be discharged into the atmosphere throughthe action of said air, means acting automati cally to efi'ect discharg from a part of said devices, and also automatically to vary the total discharge.

3. A humidifying system comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water and a plurality of water-discharge atomizing devices having provision for the formation by capillarity of a water film, said devices being in communication with both of said supplying means and at which said film is ruptured and discharged in finely atomized condition into the atmosphere, through the action of said air, and means to efl'ect discharge from a part of said devices and also automatically to increase the total discharge.

4. A humidifying system comprising in combination, a series of pipes including one water pipe and two air pipes, and discharge atomizing devices, all in communication with said water pipe, part of said devices being in communication with one air pipe and the remainder with the other.

5. A humidifying system comprising in combination, a plurality of series of pipes, each series being composed of on water pipe and two air pipes, and a plurality of discharge atomizing devices in communication with each of said water pipes, part of the atomizing devices in communication with each pipe bemg also in communication with one of said air pipes, and the remainder of said devices being in communication with th other air pipe of that series.

6. A humidifying system comprising in combination, a plurality of series of pipes, each series being composed of one water pipe and two air pipes, cross connecting air pipes between the air pipes of said series,

communicate, electrically controlled "valves governing the flow ofthe air at said nozzles, and means whereby the existence of a predetermined degree of humidification in the room effects the substantially instantaneous and full opening of one of said valves, and the subsequent opening of another of said valves.

8. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space, comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, said nozzles being arranged in two sets, a pair of Valves, one controlling one of said sets of nozzles and the other controlling the other of said sets of nozzles, and means whereby th attainment of a certain predetermined degree of humidification in the room effects the opening'of one of said valves and the opening of its set of nozzles, and whereby thereafter the other of said valves effects the opening of its set of nozzles.

9. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, aseries of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, said nozzles being arranged in two sets, a pair of valves, one controlling one of said sets of nozzles and the other controlling the other of said sets of nozzles, and means whereby the attainment of a certain, predetermined degree of humidification in the room effects the opening of one of saidvalves and thereby a discharge of air under pressure at the set of nozzles controlled thereby and the discharge thereby of water at said nozzles, and whereby thereafter the other of said valves is opened and thereby effects at the set of nozzles controlled by it the discharge of air under pressure and the discharge thereby at said nozzles.

10. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, said nozzles being arranged in two sets, a pair of valves, one controlling one of said sets of nozzles'and the other controlling the other of said sets of nozzles, two sets of electrical contacts, and means whereby the existence of a certain, predetermined degree of humidification effects the functioning of one set of contacts with consequent opening of one of said valves and the nozzles controlled by it, and whereby thereafter the .other set of said contacts functions with consequent opening of other of said valves and the nozzles controlled by it.

'11. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for-supplying or distributing air or like fluid under, pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spra ing nozzles with which the air and water oth communicate, a housing within said. room or other enclosed space, means whereby air of said room or space is circulated through said housing, an electrically operated valve or valves controlling the discharge of air and water at said nozzles, electrical contacts for said valve or valvesfwet and dry bulb means within the said housing and including wicking 24 carried by sald means and means whereby said contacts are caused to function by the co-action of the wet and dry bulb means and the air'passing through the housing.

12. A humidifying system for a room or other'enclosed space comprising in combi nation, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, .a series of spraying nozzles with which -the air and water both communicate, a housing within said room or other enclosed space, means whereby air of said room or s ace is circulated through said ,housing, a va ve or valves controlling the discharge of air and water at said nozzles, parts 9 and 10 within said housing, wicking 24 carried by the part 10, and connections from said parts 9' and 10 to said valve or valves.

13. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, a housing within said room or other enclosed space, means whereby air of said room or space is circulated through said housing, an electrically controlled valve or valves themselves controlling the discharge of air and water at said nozzles, parts 9 and 10 within said housing, wicking 24 carried by the art 10, electrical contacts controlling said v ves, and means whereby the air passing through said housing causes the parts 9, 10 and 24 to function and thereby to cause said electrical contacts to function.

14. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for su plying or distributing air or like fluid un er pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying'nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, a valve or valves controlling the discharge of the air and the water at said nozzles, a ry element, awet element having the wickin 24, and means whereby the air in the ro or space acting upon said elements and wicking produces the opening of said valve or valve N I 15. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both communicate, a valve or valves controlling the discharge of the air and the water at said 95 nozzles, a dry element, a wet element having the wicking 24, and electrically governed means whereby the air in the room or space acting upon said elements and wicking produces the sudden and wide opening of said valve or valves.

' 16. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which the air and water both com- I'nunicate, a valve or valves controlling the discharge of the air and the water at said. nozzles, a dry element, a wet element having vthe wicking 24, and electrical contacts controlled by the wet and dry elements to produce the sudden and wide opening of said valve or valves.

17. A humidifying system for a room or other enclosed space comprising in combination, means for supplying or distributing air or like fluid under pressure, means for supplying water, a series of spraying nozzles with which :the air and water both communicate, said nozzles being arranged in two sets, a pair of valves, one controlling one of said sets of nozzles and the other controlling the other of saidsets of nozzles, a dry element, a wet element having the wicking 24, and means whereby the air in the room or space acting upon said elements and wicking produces the successive opening of the valves and the consequent successive opening of said two sets ofnozzles.

iu fls sfi m gin fo" supplying or dis- U i under pressure, m 'aplurality of 1 gdevices in comh' f sa'i'dsupplying der" is adapted to be "'phei'e through the d ineans dependent jct', discharge from otal' discharge.

" tem comprising in uid under pressure, i', a pluralityof zlngdevices in com- ,.eaid; pp y "'is' adapted to be means dependent fliect; discharge from *i part of said devices and' ,a1so y e, bar e-1" 2g h fyi ,g sy 'e'inlcomprising in fluid under pressure, water, a plurality of e atomizingf devices in comth b" h "pff said supplying de- "r is adapted to be dis osphere through the ac- 7 m ans dependent .upon "ty g eifiiieigtv discharge from a part p I es andgalge automatically to in- }crease "the totahdischarge if insuflicient huidi fication is :cfifec'ted by the' said first discomprising in er and a plurality for 1m; said devices being in 4 a l'ibo'thfof said supplying iid a W ch saidmmis ruptured and discharged ely atomiied condition into theatmospherefthrough the action of said Q air, andimeans dependent upon the humidity'eqpfiw dischai'ge lfrom a par tflof said devicesjan dr lso automatically to increase 11d also automati- Y ""iupplying or disa o sphere through automatically Supplying or. dis-.;

supplying or dis; d under pressure,

" I .atomi zing devices havthe formation "by capilcombination, means f tributing air orfl l' means for supply of water discharge toim zg ing provisioni 22. A humidifyipg system;

matically to va-rygthe I 24, A humidifyilig system p mp H 1 combination, means; pplying or; di tributing air oigllikefluid nder means for pp ing ieg s ee Plura of water discharge ing provision. f for larity of a water H p I je ng '11-; communication iwlth @both i of, said sup y ing means and aewmensndrup i s g 'npeg 'U tured and sc arg s-1; inne v at m zed' 95 condition into the atmosph 'e ough they action of -a m e iirgoxernedv ya the i y tbrfie s res r: and air or like fluidgiroin ai a devices and also, aut to; 1

v P t ea ye .i the total discharge ii om amongi. said,

fected by the saidz lirstidischarge In testimony. Whe eof, In -have sign name to this specification #BALBHD 

